Shadai Stallion Station

Globetrotting wunderkind Equinox (Jpn), his sire Kitasan Black (Jpn) and Kizuna (Jpn) co-lead the Shadai Stallion Station roster at ¥20,000,000 (€123,497) apiece next year. Equinox, who has his first foals arriving next year, and Kitasan Black (11 stakes winners) have had their fees remain at their 2024 levels, while Kizuna has had his fee increased from €12,000,000. The last-named horse has fired in 14 stakes winners in 2024 alone, among them G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Justin Milano (Jpn). Right under the leading trio is Japanese Triple Crown...

Equinox (Jpn), who was crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse in 2023, covered 203 mares in his first season at Shadai Stallion Station in 2024, the stud has announced. Beaten just twice in 10 career starts, Equinox broke new ground when he retired to Shadai as his introductory fee of ¥20 million (around €124,000) was a record high for a first-season stallion in Japan. He shared top billing on the Hokkaido roster with his own sire, Kitasan Black (Jpn), who also stood at a fee of ¥20 million when covering 191...

MV Magnier has described the Japan Cup as "the main aim" for Auguste Rodin (Ire) where the six-time Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact (Jpn) will bid to bridge a gap of almost two decades to the last European-trained winner of the race.  Speaking at the JRHA Select Sale in Japan last week, Magnier firmed up plans for Auguste Rodin, who is the culmination of over 10 years of Coolmore breeding mares to Japanese-based stallions.  He also confirmed that Coolmore has supported Kitasan Black (Jpn), the sire of Equinox (Jpn),...

A winner over 1400 metres versus newcomers on June 22, Satono Carnaval (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) defended his perfect record with a 1 1/4-length win in the G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes at Hakodate on Saturday. Sporting lather along his neck in the preliminaries, the bay sat in fourth position early in this cut back in trip. The 12-5 favourite, who moved fluidly throughout, took dead aim on long-time leader Nishino Lavanda (Jpn) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) at the furlong pole and easily edged ahead of the filly by the line. Endless...

HOKKAIDO, Japan-One thing the Japanese breeders are not short on is patience. It is here where the middle-distance horse is truly admired and cultivated arguably better than any other racing nation.  That patience will come in handy, according to Shadai Stallion Station's Naohiro Hosoda, when it comes to getting the best out of Equinox (Jpn) at stud.  Officially the best horse that the county has ever produced, having retired with a rating of 135 following a four-length triumph in the Japan Cup, Equinox is arguably the most exciting addition to...

Shadai Stallion Station has set the introductory fee for Equinox (Jpn) at ¥20 million (€124,000), which is a record high for a first-season stallion in Japan. It also makes his equal in price to his own sire Kitasan Black (Jpn), whose fee has been doubled for 2024. Father and son are the two most expensive stallions on Shadai's 33-strong roster. The Shadai website already has a 'Book full' note posted alongside the name of Equinox, who retires to stud as the top-rated horse in the world in 2023. The 4-year-old...

Crossing the line as Equinox sauntered home in the Japan Cup, Christophe Lemaire gave a little shake of his head and beamed as he tried unconvincingly to pat the horse's neck. Lemaire's disbelief was such that he went floppy with delight. Championship races are not meant to be processions. Even legendary horses aren't supposed to be so superior to their contemporaries. While others bobbed and heaved with effort, Equinox arrived at the front in his races on the bridle, with Lemaire perched as if for a portrait painter. Then he...

The world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) has been retired to Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido after winning last weekend's Japan Cup in spectacular fashion. Last Sunday's Group 1 success was the Japanese superstar's sixth consecutive victory at the highest level. In 10 lifetime starts he was beaten twice when second to Geoglyph (Jpn) in the GI Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) and also second in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) to Do Deuce (Jpn). Bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm from the Group 3-winning King Halo...

Kitasan Black (Jpn), Japan's busiest stallion in 2023 and the sire of the world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn), has had his covering fee doubled for next season to ¥20 million (approximately £108,000/€124,000). Kitasan Black is a son of Black Tide (Jpn), a full-brother to the late Deep Impact (Jpn), and he was kept busy at the Shadai Stallion Station last spring when covering 242 mares. It remains to be seen whether his most famous son, who is favourite to extend his Group 1 winning streak to six in Sunday's Japan...

Coolmore and Westerberg's Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}--Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had failed to get his nose in front in three starts since saluting in last term's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud and bounced back under a Ryan Moore masterclass to claim a career high in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York. Detached in rear and patiently ridden as the hitherto undefeated Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) set searching fractions up front, the 4-1 chance inched ever closer in the straight to launch his challenge...

HOKKAIDO, Japan--In the bloodstock world, the battle for succession does not come down to unseemly squabbles in the boardroom. What matters first is what happens on the track, and even when all goes right there, success in the breeding shed is far from guaranteed. Smallish in stature but a Goliath in influence and reputation, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Northern Dancer gave the European breeding industry many stars including, crucially, Sadler's Wells, whose line holds strong predominantly through Galileo (Ire) and his heir apparent, Frankel (GB). Northern Dancer also...

Japanese and UAE champion and top sire Heart's Cry (Jpn) (Sunday Silence--Irish Dance {Jpn}, by Tony Bin {Ire}) died on Mar. 9, the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) announced on Friday. The 22-year-old was in good health until he passed, due to a sudden inability to stand. Teruya Yoshida, CEO of Shadai Farm, said in a statement, "Hearts Cry ran out of steam last night [Thursday]. I heard from the person in charge of the Shadai Stallion that he left nobly and without showing any weakness until the very end. "When...